Effects of suppressing sneezing and thirst, as explained in ayurveda

Ayurveda acharyas repeatedly emphasize on not to control natural urges. The texts of ayurveda mention again and again that body immunity level reduces when urges are controlled. The untoward effects of controlling urges of sneezing and thirst are explained below.

Sneezing - Sneezing is the response of body, to eliminate irritant present in nose. It is also known as ste
utation. The process of sneezing is very complicated which involves muscles of abdomen, chest, diaphragm, vocal chords and throat. Irritants like dust, cold air, pollen grains, virus etc stimulate the process of sneezing. Through sneezing body expels the irritants and brings comfort to body.

Effects of suppression of sneezing- Various studies have revealed that suppressing the urge of sneezing can fracture nasal cartilage, cause bleeding through nose , rupture ear drums and can cause hearing loss. Apart from these it can lead to vertigo, retinal damage and injury to brain structures. In ayurvedic text “ashtanga hridaya” it is said that “suppression of sneezing can cause headache, diminished sensitivity of sense organs (hearing and visual loss) and stiffness of neck. Suppression of sneeze can cause facial paralysis.”

Ayurveda remedies for symptoms arising from suppression of sneezing- Inducing the process of sneezing through inhalation of medicated fumes and instilling medicated drops through nose are strongly recommended as remedial measures. Massaging face with herbal oil and exposing neck and face to steam are other two remedies mentioned in texts of ayurveda.

Thirst- Water is the major component of all living beings and it is the major constituent of human cells. Almost all functions of body need water as medium to function normally. We regularly loose water through urine, respiration, bowel movement and sweating. Severe lose motions and hot climate may also lead to loss of water. Thirst is the signal of body, asking us to replenish the water lost during metabolic activities.

Effects of suppression of Thirst: By suppressing thirst we will be depriving our body of water. This leads to dehydration. Ayurveda acharyas describe the effects of suppression of thirst as follows – “dehydration, weakness of muscles, loss of consciousness, heart palpitations, nausea, vomiting and temporary loss of senses”. Apart from these symptoms like Dry mouth, Lightheadedness (especially when standing), decreased urine output and absence of sweating may surface when we suppress thirst. Even eyes may stop producing tears.

Ayurveda remedies for symptoms arising from suppression of thirst – Sprinkling cold water on body, encouraging sipping of cool clear water, replenishing the lost water with liquids like tender coconut water, butter milk and fruit juices.

WHO strongly recommends administration of aptly constituted oral rehydration solutions (ORS) for patients suffering from dehydration.